Image: From TRT World X@trtworld
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies | December 22, 2025
DAMASCUS, Syria — A high-level Turkish delegation led by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin arrived in Damascus on Monday for a critical working visit. The trip marks exactly one year since Fidan’s first historic visit to the capital following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
The delegation is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to conduct a comprehensive review of the “New Syria” era, focusing on security cooperation, economic reconstruction, and the implementation of the landmark March 10 Agreement.
Security and the “March 10 Agreement”
At the heart of the talks is the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the national state apparatus. Under the March 10 pact, all civilian and military institutions in northeastern Syria are slated to merge with the central government by the end of 2025.
Turkiye, which views the Kurdish-led SDF as a security threat, is pushing for a strict implementation of the deal to ensure:
-
Unified Command: The dissolution of independent SDF command chains.
-
Border Sovereignty: The return of all border crossings and oil fields to Damascus’s control.
-
Counter-Terrorism: Preventing the resurgence of Daesh (ISIS), especially as Syria recently joined the International Coalition to Defeat Daesh.
Reconstruction and Economic Ties
The visit also aims to solidify Turkiye’s role in Syria’s massive reconstruction effort. Since the lifting of the Caesar Act sanctions by the U.S. earlier this month, Turkish firms have already secured over $11 billion in contracts, primarily in the aviation and energy sectors.
The delegation includes Nuh Yilmaz, Turkiye’s newly appointed ambassador to Damascus, signaling a full restoration of diplomatic rank between the neighbors.
“Turkiye is working to ensure that new cooperation opportunities serve Syria’s stability in line with the interests of both countries,” a Turkish Foreign Ministry source stated.
Regional Risks: Israel and Southern Syria
Discussions are expected to address growing tensions in southern Syria.13 Following the 12-Day War in June 2025, Israeli military activity near the border has remained a point of concern for both Ankara and Damascus. President al-Sharaa has recently called on regional partners to help mitigate “aggressive actions” that threaten the fledgling state’s security.
| Recent Diplomatic Milestone | Date | Key Outcome |
| SDF Integration Pact | March 10, 2025 | Agreement to unify all Syrian military forces. |
| Syria Joins Anti-ISIS Coalition | Nov 21, 2025 | Syria becomes the 90th member of the Global Coalition. |
| Caesar Act Repeal | Dec 20, 2025 | Formal end of U.S. sanctions on Syria. |
| 3+3 High-Level Meeting | Dec 22, 202515 | Assessment of bilateral ties one year post-Assad. |
The visit underscores a significant shift in regional dynamics, as Turkiye moves from a primary backer of the opposition to a key guarantor of the new Syrian administration’s stability and territorial integrity.